Something was afoot in Wales in the 1990s.

Bands like Catatonia, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics and Super Furry Animals exploded into the charts and showed the world that the Welsh music scene offers so much more than Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and male voice choirs. This was the decade when Cool Cymru really did rule the charts.

Relive the 1990s at this year’s Late Lounge as author Neil Collins talks to Welsh music legend, Rhys Mwyn, about his new book, International Velvet and the decade that put Wales on the musical map in ways that still inspire the vibrant Welsh music scene today.

Neil Collins is a writer born and bred in Cardiff. A former journalist for WalesOnline, he has also been featured in newspapers in Bristol, Newcastle and Liverpool as well as websites including Louder Than War, Nation Cymru, This is Anfield, The Liverpool Way, Buzz, Wales Arts Review, Alternative Wales, Chortle and the British Comedy Guide. As a lifelong Liverpool FC fan, Neil released two LFC books in 2014 and 2015, Make Us Dream and Red Mist. Also a music obsessive, his latest book International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the 90s Charts will be published by Calon in Summer 2024.

Rhys Mwyn is a musician, archaeologist, writer and broadcaster. As a music manager, agent, publicist, Record Label and promoter, he has worked with acts as varied as Catatonia, The Rich Kids, Viv Albertine (The Slits), Y Cyrff and Datblygu. He previously played bass guitar in the Welsh Punk band, Anhrefn and established the record label Recordiau Anhrefn. Rhys is a regular contributor to Yr Herald Gymraeg and Llafar Gwlad,  has published his autobiography Cam i’r Tywyllch (Y Lolfa) and written four Welsh language books on Welsh Archaeology (Carreg Gwalch). Montgomeryshire born, he now lives in Caernarfon.